Method and apparatus for die shaping metal



MAP. E3, 1923. 3,448,457

J. G. LIDDELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIE SHAPING METAL Filed. A r. 5, 1922 as a1. 3

19 ma f vL/W ATTO/M/EYS,

Patented Mar. 13, 1923 entree stares PATENT JOHN G. LIDDELL, OF EYERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS Application filed April 3,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JO N G. LIDDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Die Shaping Metal, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a new apparatus for forming thin metal into various forms by theuse of a hollow die member or members, in combination with fluid pressure means to force the sheet metal into the hollow die or dies, to shape the sheet metal to conform to the hollow die. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my new apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1.

My invention is designed especially for use in connection with metal tubes which are to be shaped in a female die by the application of fluid pressure to that part of the tube which is opposite the cavity in the female die. My invention is shown in Figure 1 in a form adapted to expand a part of a tube into the hollow of a two part die, 1, 1.

On a base 24 is mounted a pipe member, 3, telescoping with a hollow member, 31, the member 31 being fixed to the base by bolts or the like and communicating at one end with a pipe 23 to a source of pressure, the passage being controlled by a valve 32 by means of which the passage to the pressure generator may be opened and closed at will and also a by-pass 32 tothe air may be opened or closed at will. The member 3 is slidable within member 31 and the connection is rendered fluid tight by suitable packings, 27, recesses being formed in the ends of 3 and 31 and screw gland members 33 being provided to compress the packing in the recesses.

A lever 34 is pivoted at 34 on the base, which lever by means of a pin and collar connection 35, engages member 3, which can thus be moved in either direction. Secured on the base at the opposite end from3, 31. is a clamp, made up of an arch 25 and screw 26. At the extreme end of the base an adjustable stop made up of a fixed member 4 and an adjustable screw 41 mounted therein is provided.

The member 3 is moved to the right in "a slight oil pressure.

FOR DIE SHAPING METAL.

1922. Serial N0. 549,009.

Figure 1, and the tube A which is to be expanded, is forced onto the diminished end 3 of member 3. Lower die 1, has a recess 11, formed in its upper face. as well as semitubular recesses 11 to receive the parts of the tube which are not to be expanded. The stop-screw 41 is adjusted to stop the tube at the proper position, and the member 3 carrying the tube is moved to bring the tube into position against the stop by admitting Upper die 1 is now placed and clamped in place. The proper position of lower die 1 is secured by means of bolts rising from the base and passing through slots in flange 1 on lower die 1, a nut 1 fixing the position after adjustment ofthe die. Dowel pins on upper die 1 engage holes in the upper face of lower die 1 as is customary, to adjust accurately the upper die on the lower die, these pins and holes being to one side of the positions occupied by the material to be operated upon.

The interior of tubes 3, 31 is now connected with the pressure source and the pressure is transmitted through the opening 3 of point 3 t the interior of the tube at a point where the metal is not supported, that is, opposite recess 11. The tube is thereby stretched and expanded until it receives the support of the interior surface of recess 11. It will be observed that the tube A at both ends is closed by the point 3?. The member 3 is now shifted t the right, the valve 32- being first opened to the by-pass 32*, leaving the expanded tube between the two hollow dies, from which it is then removed and the operation repeated.

I claim In a tube die-shaping mechanism, a base; a hollow member fastened to the base; a pipe telescoping in said hollow member at one end, the other end of said pipe bein adapted to receive a tube to be shaped, and having an outlet communicating with the walls of the tube: a hollow die having tube receiving recesses in its face and a die recess in line with the tube'and' pipe: means to clamp the die about thb tube: means to re tract the pipe from the tube after expanding the tube into the die: substantially and for the purpose set forth. I

Signed at Boston. Massachusetts this twenty-fifth day of lWarch. 1922.

JOHN G. LIDDELL. 

